Thursday, July 11, 2013

The DEC Bureau of Marine Resources is looking for help from anglers who target striped bass in New York.

DEC needs to
collect information about the striped bass caught by anglers to share
with researchers and resources management agencies. The Bureau of
Marine Resources will provide volunteers with logbooks and small
envelopes. Participating anglers record fish lengths and other
information about their catch and collect scale samples from each fish.
(Scale samples are used to determine the age of the fish). The
participating anglers forward the logbooks and scales samples to the
Bureau of Marine Resources. This catch and fish age information will
be used to help determine striped bass populations and to develop
management strategies for striped bass along the Atlantic coast.

New York State recreational saltwater anglers can
also report their catch in a voluntary online angler logbook, called
eLogbook. eLogbook has tools to help anglers document their fishing
activities, compile their fishing data and plan more effective fishing
trips. New York's recreational anglers can also contribute needed
fishing data to researchers and resource managers by sharing what they
catch, the sizes of their catch, and where and when they fish.
Recreational angling information can be used by DEC and other coastal
resource agencies to assess catch levels, estimate discards, measure
fishing effort and determine fishery management strategies. eLogbook was
developed cooperatively by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics
Program and DEC Bureau of Marine Resources.

Arrests Lead To Felony Charges Against Horseshoe Crabbers

Three Patchogue men are facing criminal charges after a nighttime
surveillance effort by New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) found
these individuals had illegally harvested nearly 1,500 horseshoe crabs
in the course of one night.

"Across the entire eastern seaboard, there is growing concern about
the impact declining horseshoe crab populations can have on migratory
birds such as the red knot," Regional Director Peter A. Scully said.
"Those who violate the law should be aware that DEC's Environmental
Conservation Officers are skilled law enforcement professionals who will
take swift action to protect the environment and vulnerable wildlife
populations."

On June 2, 2013, several DEC ECOs were on a designated horseshoe
crab detail on the Great South Bay in the Town of Brookhaven. At
approximately 9 p.m., officers observed a white 18-foot 1998 Carolina
Skiff with no navigation lights enter Swan River traveling northbound.
ECOs initiated a stop of the vessel and identified the operator as Luigi
A. Moscardino, 39, of Patchogue, Suffolk County.Numerous horseshoe
crabs were noted on the boat and Moscardino was unable to produce a
commercial horseshoe crabbing license. A total of 333 horseshoe crabs
were removed from the vessel. Moscardino was allowed to keep 5 crabs as
per the recreational limit, resulting in a total of 328 illegal
horseshoe crabs harvested on the boat.

As Moscardino docked his boat and was being processed, another
vessel just off-shore with no navigation lights was spotted by ECOs
using night-vision binoculars. Two subjects, later identified as David
J. Hartmann Jr., 33, of East Patchogue and Paul E. Sharkey II, 32, of
Patchogue, were observed on the dark green 24-foot 1976 Angler as it
cautiously made its way around the entrance of the river. ECOs proceeded
to stop this vessel, and once again noted numerous horseshoe crabs on
the vessel. Hartmann possessed a valid DEC commercial fishing permit
for harvesting horseshoe crabs, and a valid Foodfish & Crustacean
Dealer/Shipper permit. Hartmann did not have any 2013 DEC commercial
fishing permits.

COs then proceeded to count and remove the horseshoe crabs from the
second vessel. After nearly two hours of counting and four truckloads
of crabs, a total of 1,107 horseshoe crabs were removed from the
vessel. Hartmann was allowed to keep 5 crabs as per the recreational
limit, and Sharkey kept 30 crabs as per the allowable commercial limit,
resulting in 1,072 illegal horseshoe crabs seized.

The horseshoe crabs were trucked to several nearby sites and released back into the waters of the Great South Bay.

As of July 9, 2013, each bayman arrested was brought up on the following charges:

Paul E. Sharkey II -

Possession of over limit horseshoe crabs - E Felony - up to 4 years in prison, and/or up to $5,000 fine and up to $107,200 fine ($100 per Horseshoe Crab)

A recreational limit of five horseshoe crabs per day may be taken,
but the crabs may not be offered for sale and must be for the
harvester's own personal use. The commercial limit is 30 horseshoe crabs
per day.

Before harvesting horseshoe crabs, individuals should be sure to
contact the DEC Bureau of Marine Resources for current information on
open seasons, permits and harvest regulations.

Individuals spotting illegal activities are encouraged to call DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers at (631) 444-0250 during business hours, and 1-877-457-5680 or 1-800-TIPP-DEC at all other times to report suspected illegal activities

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Wadeable Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) Project is Launching its 2013 Season

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is
actively recruiting citizen scientists to collect biological samples
from streams and rivers in the Genesee, Delaware, Hudson, and Mohawk
River watersheds as part of the Wadeable Assessments by Volunteer
Evaluators (WAVE) project to assess water quality.

WAVE data are used to augment the work of the DEC Stream
Biomonitoring Unit, which samples streams and rivers across the state to
create an inventory of stream water quality. Citizen Monitors will
provide valuable information to assist in identifying healthy stream
sites and flagging sites that potentially have water quality concerns.
These data are included in federal and state water quality reports and
help to target professional assessments and local restoration efforts
where they are most needed.

Trained citizen monitors will visit streams between July and
September to collect and identify insects and other small organisms
(macroinvertebrates) from the rocks and rubble on the stream bottom, and
preserve one example of each organism for identification by the WAVE
Coordinator. If six or more of the "Most Wanted" organisms are found,
the stream segment is assessed as having no known impacts and fully
supporting aquatic life. If mostly "Least Wanted" organisms are found,
then the stream segment will be flagged for possible investigation by
professionals.

Training sessions are scheduled for July and August at locations in
Livingston Manor, Sullivan County (July 15, August 7, August 21),
Bainbridge, Chenango County (July 16, August 20), Port Jervis, Orange
County (July 17, August 6), Angelica, Allegany County(July 29, August
13), Castile, Wyoming County (July 30, September 5), and Scottsville,
Monroe County (August 12, September 4). For more information or to register for a training session, visit the DEC website.

Friday, July 05, 2013

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners are providing
$12 million during the next three years to support 75 fish habitat
conservation projects in 27 states, ranging from restoring submerged
aquatic vegetation and oyster beds in Florida and New York to restoring
degraded stream and estuary habitat for native fish in Hawaii.

“Together with our partners, we identified the 75 projects
through the National Fish Habitat Partnership, a diverse coalition of
public and private organizations that works to reverse declines in fish
habitat through voluntary, non-regulatory actions,” said Service
Director Dan Ashe. “The projects will benefit aquatic species by
protecting, restoring and enhancing stream, lake and coastal habitat as
well as anglers by improving recreational fisheries. In doing so, they
will also give a boost to local communities that benefit from the
outdoor recreation economy.”

The National Fish Habitat Partnership helps Service biologists
prioritize conservation work to get the greatest benefit for fish and
other aquatic resources and ultimately for the American people. The
partnership recently completed the first nationwide scientific
assessment of the status of fish habitats and identified conservation
priorities across the country.

To fund the projects, the Service is providing $3.17 million
this year, with nongovernmental organizations, state resource agencies
and other partners contributing an additional $9.45 million during the
next three years.

Through the funded projects, partners will work in priority
areas to restore stream banks, remove man-made barriers to fish
passage, reduce erosion from farm and ranchlands, and conduct studies
to identify conservation needs for fish and their habitats. Expected
results of the projects include more robust fish populations, better
fishing and healthier waterways. Many of the projects also are designed
to help fish populations adapt to the effects of climate change and
other environmental disruptions.

“Better fishing is a big benefit of these projects,” said Kelly
Hepler, Assistant Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game and Chairman of the National Fish Habitat Board. “With better
fishing come more tourism, tackle sales and other economic activity, as
well as a better quality of life in local communities.”

Projects sponsored by the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat
Partnership will restore submerged aquatic vegetation and oyster beds
in Florida and New York. The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture will
remove barriers in Maine and Pennsylvania and remediate acid mine
drainage in Virginia. The Western Native Trout Initiative will
restore habitat that is crucial to cutthroat trout, Gila trout and bull
trout, all of which are imperiled. Projects sponsored by the Hawaii
Fish Habitat Partnership will restore degraded stream and estuary
habitat for native fish.

About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish
habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state and private funding
sources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through
priority conservation projects. The national partnership implements the
National Fish Habitat Action Plan and supports 18 regional grassroots
partner organizations. For more information visit http://www.fishhabitat.org

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Hancock,
N.Y.—Two busy boat launches on the West Branch of the Delaware River
are closed after sustaining heavy damage during flooding in late June,
and a river advocacy group is urging government officials to repair and
reopen the sites as quickly as possible.

The
public access sites on the Pennsylvania side of the river at Shehawken
and Balls Eddy were damaged by flooding from recent relentless rains,
including as much as 5 inches in some locales during a deluge on June 27
and 28.

The
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission closed the sites due to the
damage to both the parking areas and launch ramps. Friends of the Upper
Delaware River has asked the agency to make their restoration a
priority.

"These
sites are critically important for public access and to the local
economy,” said Jeff Skelding, executive director of FUDR, a nonprofit
conservation group that acts as a river watchdog. “We need these access
sites repaired quickly, and FUDR has already offered our assistance to
Pennsylvania authorities.”

The
access points offer parking for both boaters and wading fishermen. They
are used frequently by the many commercial guide services that operate
in the area, attracting tourists who frequent local restaurants and
motels.

The
Balls Eddy access ramp is located off Penn-York Road just north of
Starlight, Penn. The Shehawken access is across the river from Hancock
at the intersection of Pennsylvania routes 191 and 370. Shehawken is
just upstream from the famous Junction Pool, where the West Branch joins
the East Branch to form the Main Stem of the Delaware River.

FUDR
has assisted in several Delaware River repair projects in recent years,
and it is the sponsor of ongoing stream restoration projects near
Hancock.

“These
sorts of storms are happening with increasing frequency and intensity,”
said Skelding. “The recent damage at Balls Eddy and Shehawken
illustrates the importance of protecting and restoring our streams and
rivers. Smart repairs to these sites and a preventative approach to
river management upstream can mitigate damage in the inevitable future
flood events."